The Craigslist Salon That Changed My Life
From Survival to Success: How One Woman Built an Empire While Redefining What It Means to Win
Sometimes your purpose doesn't begin with a dream. Sometimes it begins with survival.
If you had met me fifteen years ago, you probably wouldn't have guessed I'd one day own the largest salon in my county, lead partnerships with beauty schools across North America, or spend my days helping others build meaningful careers.
I wouldn't have guessed it either.
Because this story didn't begin with ambition.
It began with survival.
Searching for a Chance
I was recently divorced and trying to rebuild my life. After spending six years as a stay-at-home mom, I had almost no work history and no clear career path. I wasn't searching for my dream job. I was searching for someone willing to give me a chance.
That chance came in the form of a receptionist position at a local salon.
At first, it was just a paycheck. But before long, I realized I had stumbled into something much bigger.
Every day, I watched women walk through the front doors carrying stress, heartbreak, self-doubt, or exhaustion. A few hours later, they'd leave smiling a little brighter, standing a little taller, and feeling more like themselves.
I realized the beauty industry wasn't really about hair. It was about confidence. It was about connection. It was about helping people remember who they are.
Without even realizing it, I had found my purpose.
Betting on Myself
Then life changed again.
After my daughter, my third child, was born, returning to work became incredibly difficult. Instead of feeling supported, I felt like I was being pushed away from the career I had just fallen in love with.
I remember looking at my five-month-old daughter and realizing I had a decision to make. I could let someone else decide what my future looked like, or I could bet on myself.
So I did something that, looking back, sounds a little crazy. I sold nearly everything I owned that had value.
- Jewelry.
- Furniture.
- Anything I could part with.
Every dollar became another step toward opening a tiny salon I found listed on Craigslist. At the time, I was receiving government assistance. I was maxing out my credit cards—not to buy things I wanted, but to build something I hoped would change the trajectory of my family's life. For several years, I worked three jobs. I was exhausted. I missed moments with my children that I'll never get back because I believed working more hours was the only way to give them a better future.
A New Definition of Success
Then one day, I realized something that changed everything. I didn't just want to provide for my children. I wanted to be present with them. I wanted to build a life where they knew they came before my work, where I could make it to school events, where I could answer the phone when they called, and where I could show them that no matter where you start, you can build something extraordinary through grit, faith, and relentless perseverance.
That became my definition of success. Not money. Not recognition. Freedom.
Owning a business wasn't glamorous. There were months when I wondered how I was going to pay all the bills. Days when I questioned every decision I'd made. Moments when I wondered if everyone else had something figured out that I didn't. I've almost quit more times than I can count.
Entrepreneurship has a way of exposing every insecurity you have while asking you to become someone stronger than you've ever been.
And somehow… you keep showing up.
The Expo and What Failure Taught Me
Several years later, I poured my heart into creating an industry expo. I believed our beauty community deserved a place where education, collaboration, and opportunity came together under one roof. I invested everything I had into making that vision a reality. For three years, I gave it my whole heart.
But eventually, I had to face one of the hardest decisions of my career. The event was no longer serving the purpose I'd envisioned. Local gatekeeping, a lack of support, and significant financial losses made it impossible to continue. Closing the doors felt devastating.
For a long time, I believed that closing the expo was my greatest failure. Now I understand it was one of my greatest teachers.
Failure isn't always a sign that you've chosen the wrong path. Sometimes it's the thing that redirects you toward the path you were always meant to walk.
That chapter taught me resilience. It taught me humility. It taught me that courage isn't always found in holding on. Sometimes courage is found in letting go.
What I'm Most Proud Of
Today, I still own and operate that little Craigslist salon. The salon I built with sold furniture, maxed-out credit cards, government assistance, and more determination than certainty has grown into the largest salon in my county. We've been voted the number-one salon five years in a row and have been honored with dozens of awards over the years.
Those accomplishments mean the world to me. But they aren't what I'm most proud of.
I'm proud of the people.
- The stylist who discovered confidence she never knew she had.
- The single mom who found a career instead of just a job.
- The client who walked through our doors feeling invisible and left feeling seen.
- The team members who have grown into leaders.
- The lives that have been changed—not because of me, but because someone believed in them.
Breaking a Cycle
Today, my purpose has expanded beyond the walls of my salon through my work with Beautista. Every day, I have the privilege of helping beauty schools, students, educators, and salon owners create stronger connections and more opportunities. I spend my time helping others find the same kind of chance that once changed my own life.
Looking back, I realize I was never building a salon. I was breaking a cycle. I was proving to my children that the little girl who once slept in motel rooms and homeless shelters could become more. That where you begin doesn't determine where you'll end. I was creating the kind of life I desperately needed someone to tell me was possible.
Your Story Doesn't End Where It Begins
If there's one thing I hope another woman takes away from my story, it's this:
Your current circumstances are not your final destination.
- You may be relying on assistance.
- You may be staring at credit card statements, wondering how you're going to make it work.
- You may feel like you're behind everyone else.
I know that feeling. I've lived it.
But your story doesn't end where it begins. Sometimes the life you're praying for starts with one terrifying decision.
Mine started with a receptionist job. A Craigslist listing. A five-month-old baby. And the decision to believe that my children would inherit more than my circumstances—they would inherit my courage.
Today, every opportunity I create, every student I encourage, every partnership I build, and every person I mentor is rooted in that same belief.
Because I know what it feels like to need someone to open a door, to take a chance on me.
And if I've learned anything, it's this:
Success isn't measured by how many doors you walk through. It's measured by how many you hold open for the person coming behind you.
